Warren company pairs with U.S. Rep. Ryan to fight imports

WARREN — Backyard Buddy is tired of dealing with a neighborhood bully and has asked for congressional help.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan visited the Warren manufacturer earlier today and promised to assist in its battle against Chinese imports.

Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, gathered information from Larry Gross, company chief executive, and said he would research whether a trade case could be filed to create tariffs on Chinese auto lifts.

Backyard Buddy, 140 Dana St., has seen sales of its auto lifts plummet in the past five years as Chinese companies have entered the market.

The local company used to produce between 3,500 and 4,500 lifts a year but now is making just 500. Employment has been cut from 40 to 21.

Backyard Buddy sold its electric-powered lifts to car collectors and backyard mechanics all over the U.S. and in some foreign countries for the past 20 years, but customers now are flocking toward the Chinese lifts because they are inexpensive.

Gross said the Chinese lifts are being sold for less than what he pays for the parts that go into his lifts. His lifts cost $4,500 each, compared with $1,500 for the Chinese models.

For the complete story, see Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com